Are NC GOP attacks a symptom of an anything goes political culture?

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C.  A North Carolina Republican Party office in Orange County was firebombed late on the night of October 15th, causing major damage to the building. The vandals left a blunt message, spray painting “Nazi Republicans, leave town or else” on a nearby building. Luckily, no one was harmed in the attack as volunteers and staff had already left for the night.Two more incidents are also under investigation after the Pamlico County GOP office in Bayboro, N.C. was reportedly shot at with an air rifle early this week, and the Henderson County GOP office was evacuated Thursday after a bomb threat was called in.With little more than three weeks to go before election day, get out the vote operations are in full swing across the battleground state with staff, volunteers and activists often working nearly around the clock to remind potential supporters to cast their votes in the presidential election and down ballot races. “Whether you are Republican, Democrat, or Independent, all Americans should be outraged by this hate-filled and violent attack against our democracy,” said Dallas Woodhouse, executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party, of the Orange County GOP fire-bombing.”Whether the bomb was meant to kill, destroy property, or intimidate voters, everyone in this country should be free to express their political viewpoints without fear for their own safety. We will be requesting additional security at all Republican Party offices and events between now and Election Day to ensure the safety of our activists, volunteers, and supporters,” he said.It is not the first time this campaign season that politically motivated violence has come to North Carolina. Earlier this year, fights between supporters and protesters at Trump rallies in the state gained national media attention and stoked a narrative that fiery rhetoric from the Republican nominee was inciting violence, here and around the country.However, recent videos released this week as part of a year long investigative report by Project Veritas has revealed that Democrat activist organizations with connections to the Clinton campaign, and even the Obama administration, have been purposely fanning the flames of violence at Trump events and others. Moreover, those caught on video boasting about acts of voter fraud and inciting violence at Republican events have a curious connection to North Carolina.Scott Foval was the National Field Director of Americans United for Change, a liberal advocacy group implicated in the investigative report. Videos released by Project Veritas show Foval bragging about paying homeless and mentally ill individuals to incite violence at political rallies. The videos have since been banned by YouTube.In the video, Foval says he is “The only one to send when everything has gone to s—“, and that his boss gives him marching orders when no one else is willing to go.”I’m saying we have mentally ill people that we pay to do sh, make no mistake,” said Foval. “Over the last 20 years. I’ve paid off a few homeless guys to do some crazy stuff, and I’ve also taken them for dinner and I’ve also made sure they had a hotel and a shower and I’ve put them in a program. I’ve done that.”The “boss” Foval refers to is none other than Brad Woodhouse, a long tenured Democrat operative, and brother of N.C. Republican Party executive director, Dallas Woodhouse. The partisanly opposed brothers have been a source of intrigue in politics for years, even becoming the subject of a doucmentary titled Woohouse Divided.After release of the videos, Foval was fired from Americans United For Change, and Brad Woodhouse publicly denounced the actions of his national field director.”Americans United For Change has always operated according to the highest ethical and legal standards,” he stated in a press release. “Scott Foval is no longer associated with Americans United For Change.”During a N.C. GOP press conference Wednesday to offer updates on the fire-bombing and other incidents of violence at North Carolina GOP field offices, North State Journal solicited comments in response to the Project Veritas reports within the context of the recent violence.”These acts, no matter who does them, are totally unacceptable,” responded Chairman Robin Hayes, after claiming they were unaware of the reports. “There is no reason anywhere anytime for this type of behavior.”Dallas Woodhouse offered no comments in relation to the Project Veritas findings and his brother’s connection to it, either unaware of the national news story, or perhaps hitting too close to home to offer critiques of the report’s findings.With little more than two weeks to go before election day, and early voting already underway in North Carolina on tight races up and down the ballot, the temperature of this campaign season may yet to reach its peak. Meanwhile field offices and campaign volunteers will continue their work, albeit with a bit more caution during the tense race to the finish line.

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